Datuk Dr. Christopher Lee at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
PETALING JAYA: Getting influenza vaccination will be your passport to a happy and healthy holiday especially for those travelling overseas, say health experts.
Former Health Ministry deputy director-general (Research & Technical Support) Datuk Dr Christopher Lee said getting vaccinated would still be useful for avoiding catching influenza on their trips or those who are not planning to travel.
“Even if you managed to evade the flu throughout your trip, there is still an 80% chance of getting it if an infected person sits near you on the flight home, whether or not they display any symptoms.
“There is also the fact that flu viruses can survive for up to 48 hours on certain surfaces including video screens, armrests and seat belt buckles, which could lead to you catching it later after you reach home.
“High-risk groups in particular should get the shot even if they are not travelling overseas as the expected high volume of foreign tourists from flu hotspots may also unintentionally spread it within local communities too.
“Getting the vaccine will reduce the likelihood that you end up with a full-blown bout of the flu and waste precious holidays in bed or in hospital,” he added.
Immunise4Life programme technical committee chairman Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail stressed that a number of popular tourist destinations in the northern hemisphere are currently in the midst of widespread flu epidemics and that Malaysians travelling to those places should consider getting vaccinated first.
“As of Dec 2, the United States is currently experiencing what many have called its worst flu outbreak in a decade while hospitals in England are reporting 10 times the number of flu patients, 334 cases per day, than it had in December last year.
"France has also declared flu epidemics in several areas.
“Asian countries are not safe either with health authorities from South Korea, Taiwan and Japan raising the alarm over the steady increase in cases in their countries,” he said.
The vaccination is available at most private clinics in Malaysia.
